Research: Universities’ Key Role in Health Outcomes of Students Worldwide

The link between physical activity and mental health has been widely accepted for many years. In recent years though, an increasing body of university-led evidence has demonstrated how critical this link is to the success of university students around the world. 

Peer-reviewed studies out of the UK, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Norway show remarkable similarities across the student cohorts studied. All of the studies reinforce the direct impact regular physical activity has on improved mental health outcomes for students*. 

With the commencement of university studies often coinciding with students reaching physical maturity and independence, this time represents a critical juncture in the development of long-term health-seeking behaviours in the cohort. 

As such, universities have a unique opportunity to assist their students in incorporating regular physical activity into their lives, a behaviour that is being repeatedly demonstrated as benefiting academic outcomes and directly improving a student’s likelihood of graduating. 

In response to this link, UniSport Australia has committed to driving a key global programme to enhance well-being for students and the entire campus community on Australian universities.  

UniSport recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote FISU’s Healthy Campus Programme and has set a target of 14 signatories by the end of 2024. This ambitious target reflects reports from existing signatories of the increased value the entire university sport sector can expect to receive from broader participation in Healthy Campus by Australian universities. 

Launched in 2020, Healthy Campus aims to enhance all aspects of well-being for students and the campus community. Looking to reverse the well-established trend of young adults compromising their health during their academic careers, the initiative is already having a positive impact on the lives and lifestyles of university students around the world. 

The University of Western Australia was one of the first Australian signatories to the Healthy Campus project and has now achieved Gold level certification, the second-highest possible under the programme. 

UWA’s project The Living Room, which offers check-ups, assessments and evaluations about mental and social health by professionals to the campus community, has been listed by FISU as a Best Practice example of a Healthy Campus program. 

Positioned as ‘a welcoming, inclusive and student- focused space that promotes well-being through early intervention, peer support and low barrier access to UWA health services. Students can visit for varying concerns such as feeling stressed, lonely or just a chat’, The Living Room acknowledges the University’s place in promoting, supporting and sustaining positive mental health and well-being, while addressing common stressors for students and facilitating timely connection to services at times of adversity. 

Mark Sinderberry, CEO of UniSport Australia said that the experience of Australian universities participating in FISU’s Health Campus programme has been self-reported as overwhelmingly positive. ‘We are seeing universities benefit from the Healthy Campus programme through collaboration and shared learning, but also opportunities within their own organisation to nurture and build on existing initiatives.’ 

‘We know Australian universities already understand the role they have to play in developing the student as a whole person and that the benefits in doing that flow back to the university. Healthy Campus is a way of UniSport Australia supporting Members in capitalising on that understanding and goodwill,’ Sinderberry said.  

FISU members globally have been invited to participate in Healthy Campus, with signatories reporting their top five reasons for joining as: 

• Learn best practices from major universities around the world 

• Encourage cohesion and coordination among all departments and services 

• Improve the image and credibility of the University with a certified international label 

• Put a stop to “drop out” trends and help students love campus life 

• Work towards UN SDGs in an organised manner and get into leading university rankings 

For more information on how UniSport Australia is supporting Healthy Campuses please contact Martin Doulton, General Manager -Advocacy on martin.doulton@unisport.com.au 

Research CONFIRMS a link between physical activity & mental health 

• University student mental health is of an increasing concern 

• Students may experience: 

  • Significant mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety 

  • Encounter higher stress levels compared to other age groups 

• Regular physical activity and fitness are strongly linked to improved mental health and well-being and can reduce stress among students  

Research	Summary
Physical activity interventions to improve mental health and wellbeing in university students in the UK: A service mapping study  Citation: Malagodi et al., 2024	Rates of reported mental health conditions among UK university students have significantly increased over the past 15 years.  Similar trends are observed in other high-income countries (such as USA and Australia)  A substantial number of students report depression and anxiety  Data was collected from 125 UK universities  Only 36% of UK universities offer physical activity programs to their students.  These programs focus on enhancing capability and opportunity to be active, not student motivation  More universities should consider offering physical activity interventions to improve mental health  Students experiencing mental ill-health tend to have poorer academic outcomes and are at a higher risk of withdrawing from their studies
An empirical study of physical activity and sports affecting mental health of university students  Citation: Congsheng et al., 2022	Data was collected from 512 Malaysian university students  The outcomes of this research suggest:  There is a positive association between physical activity and mental health  The importance of promoting physical activity and sport among university students to improve mental health  Engaging in professional development for university staff to encourage increased participation in physical activity may improve student mental health
Enhancing mental health, well-being and active lifestyles of university students by means of physical activity and exercise research programs  Citation: Herbert, 2022	Sitting for more than 8 hours/day is as damaging to one’s health as obesity and smoking  The young emerging adult population (including university students) often exceed this total  Aerobic exercises of low- to moderate-intensity can assist in alleviating depressive symptoms and perceived stress  Acute bouts of exercise, such as yoga, are effective in improving perception of bodily signals, cardiac activity and emotion processing immediately after exercise  Future research should focus on psychological and physiological factors to understand how low- and moderate-intensity exercise strengthens mental health and promotes an active lifestyle in emerging adults
Physical exercise, mental health problems, and suicide attempts in university students  Citation: Grasdalsmoen et al., 2020	Examining the link between physical exercise (frequency, intensity, duration) and mental health issues, including self-harm and suicide attempts, among college and university students  Data was collected from 50,054 full-time Norwegian students aged 18-35 years old  Lower physical exercise was associated with increased mental health problems and suicidality, with the strongest impacts seen for exercise frequency  There is a shared responsibility (both politically and institutionally) to encourage physical activity among students to improve mental health